Redemption (37 page)

I whip around and take aim at the dark figure half a block behind me, leaning against the back end of a silver car.
 
Judging by his height and build, I’d say he’s about my age, give or take a few months.
 
Two arms rise toward the sky.
 
“I’m unarmed!”

With him in my sights, I approach slowly, waiting for a sound of ambush.
 
I don’t want to fire off a shot for fear of drawing attention to myself, but surely this guy isn’t alone.
 
“Who are you?”

“The name’s Bastien.”

“You got a last name, Bastien?”
 
I creep closer.
 
My pulse tap-dances in my ears as I pause less than ten feet from him.
 
I clench my fingers around the gun as I try to ignore the sweat gathering along my neck.
 
Adrenaline pumps through my veins, making me alert.
 

I take several deep breaths as I plot out my next move, as if this is a hunt and I’m staring down my dinner.
 
What does he want?
 
Is he a scavenger or one of the human traitors who collects women to sell to the Caldonians?
  

“Adair.
 
It’s Scottish.”
 
He cocks his head to the side.
 
“Guess that little tidbit doesn’t really matter when you’ve got a gun aimed at your head.”

“Your heart, actually.”
 
My finger hovers over the trigger as I scan the guy standing before me.
 

Shoulder length raven-black hair tosses about in the wind, thrashing against his angular face.
 
His chest and shoulders are broad, tapering down to a well-defined abdomen, although the exact contour is hard to determine hidden beneath a woolen sweater.

His raised hands are encased in threadbare gloves.
 
Some of the wool fingers are missing, with frayed bits of yarn poking out.
 
His jeans are stained and faded, patched with poorly stitched bits of random cloth.
 
Light stubble clings to his chin and jawline, enhancing his rugged good looks with annoying perfection.
 

I notice all of this with a simple glance before meeting his curious gaze.
 
Vivid blue eyes with pupils ringed in gold betray intelligence and, if I’m not mistaken, a hint of humor too.

“Something funny?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Well, that depends.”
 
A ghost of a smile stretches across his face.

“On?”
 
I adjust the gun in my hand.
 
Although he doesn’t move or show any signs of hostility, I find myself deeply unsettled by him.
 

“On whether you think your little toy pistol can beat my shotgun.”
 
He slides his arm down from the trunk of the silver car, revealing a sawed off shotgun.
 
I silently berate myself for letting him get the better of me, although his concealed weapon doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
 
More of an annoyance.
 
I don’t like losing the upper hand.

“A bit old school, don’t you think?” I smirk, not letting my gun drop a millimeter.
 
“Now what do we do?”

Bastien’s gaze rises to the sky.
 
The final wisps of pastel blue and lavender begin to fade into black.
 
“I’m going to invite you back to my place.
 
I know it’s a bit forward, but I’d rather carry on this delightful chat inside.”

I drop my gaze to his hands, noting the sure steadiness of them.
 
My mind screams for me to take my chances but my gut tells me that he’s more than willing to pull that trigger.
 
This won’t end well for me.

“Fine.” I dip my head in agreement, knowing that time is running short.
 
Already I can hear the whirl of the Sky Ship’s engines as it takes off.
 
“Drop yours first.”

The rising winds whip Bastien’s hair about his face, obscuring his features, but his eyes remain locked on me.
 
“You’re insane!
 
You really want to do this now?”

I twist my head just enough to hear the hum of an engine approaching from down the street.
 
I chew on my lip, knowing I have two choices: trust this complete stranger or take on a Sky Ship with just a handful of bullets.
 
It’s not a hard choice.

“Lead the way.”
 
I lower my weapon but my finger remains on the trigger as he cocks the shotgun over his shoulder.
 
Without another word, he turns and dashes across the street, weaving in and out of the abandoned cars.
 

I try to keep up with his fast pace, reminding myself to breathe as the winds funnel harder down the street.
 
The Sky Ship is nearly on top of us.

“How far?”
 
I glance back over my shoulder to find the tip of a black wing appearing over the edge of a building two blocks away.
 
A hand grasps my forearm and pulls me through a dark opening in the wall.
 
I stumble forward out of Bastien’s grasp, fighting to remain upright as I falter down a steep set of stairs.
 

Metal clanging overhead alerts me to his location.
 
I wait, gasping for breath as the walls rumble around me.
 
The Sky Ship must be directly above us now.
 
I press back against the wall, clutching my gun to my chest as I lift prayers for safety heavenward.
 

I jerk my pistol up to eye level as a light flares in the dark.
 
Bastien shields his eyes with his arm and rears back.
 
“Don’t go shooting that thing in here!
 
It’ll kill us both!”

I drop the gun, squinting up into the light.
 
It doesn’t flicker like a fire.
 
Its core is pure white instead of vivid blue or orange.
 
Metal encases the cylindrical object, scratched and worn but showing little sign of rust.
 
“What is that thing?”

“A flashlight.”

I roll the word around on my tongue.
 
“Never heard of it.”

He shoots me a scathing look.
 
“I wouldn’t expect a tree hugger like you would have.”

My brow furrows and I’m sure he’s just insulted me in some way.
 
Bastien slowly steps down the narrow staircase.
 
As the light broadens around me, I begin to notice the dingy cement walls, lined with posters and advertisements.
 
“Where are we?”

“It used to be a subway.”
 
He pauses beside me, waiting for some sign of recognition.
 
This time I nod in understanding.

“My mother told me about these.
 
Long, winding tunnels underground that would shuttle people from one end of the City to the next.”

“That’s the basic idea of it, yeah.”
 
Bastien waits for me before descending the final steps.
 
“This is the safest place to be during a raid.
 
I found this entrance a couple months back and haven’t been bothered once.”
 
His arm brushes against mine as he squeezes past through the narrow doorway.
 
I follow his lead deeper underground, passing silently by aged wooden benches and an empty enclosed booth with the picture of the subway on the side.
 
The further we go, the quieter the hum of the Sky Ship becomes.

I stay close as we leap down onto the track and wind through the deserted tunnel.
 
The air is thick down here, different from the caves.
 
It feels weighty, filthy.
 

“This way.”
 
He flashes his light onto the track ahead and I see a glint of white and red.
 

“What is that thing?” I ask, as we approach the large metal object filling the tunnel.

“It’s an old subway car.”
 
Bastien reaches up and cranks the metal handle on the door.
 
I hesitate as he offers me a hand up.
 
His smirk widens.
 
“It’s rude to refuse the aid of a gentleman, you know.”

“Who said you were a gentleman?”

He stares pointedly at his hand, wiggling his fingers.
 
“Don’t leave me hanging here.”

I swallow my trepidation and place my hand in his.
 
The scratchy feel of his wool glove lingers long after he releases my hand.
 

Coming 2014

Netherworld

Book I of the Hallowed Realms Trilogy

The dead shadow my steps, beckoned by my call.
 
It is my curse, my destiny.

I am a Banshee, a slave to the dying.

Aed, god of the Netherworld, has chosen me as his bride, but my heart belongs to another - a mortal whose eyes pierce the veil between our worlds.
 
Our love is forbidden among the Hallowed Realms.
 

With Aed, I’d be free of my curse but bound to the Netherworld for all eternity. With Devlin, I’d risk his life if my betrothed discovered my betrayal.
 
Can I accept my fate at Aed’s side or risk everything for love?